In Beijing, Temple fairs custom can date far back to the Liao dynasty (916-1125). It became more and more famous in the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368). While during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), it was very flourish. Temple fairs were said to have their origins in the ancient ’she sacrifice.’ A she was where sacrifices to the local God of Earth were offered. Altars of the Gods of Earth and Grain were also known as Earth Temples. It is from gatherings that took place at these temples that temple fairs derived their name. Later on other than just sacrifice, it developed as a regular market, where people could eat and shopping there. Visitors to the temple fairs included both city folk and peasants from the outlying regions. Customers could buy a variety of locally made products such as ‘Gold Elephant Zhang’s’ double-edged combs, ‘Iron Knife Liu’s’ fruit knives and ‘Sanheju’ wigs, as well as second-hand clothes or jewelry, bamboo and wicker products, flowers, birds, fish and insects.

In Ancient time, temple fairs were held in turn every 10 days at the Earth Temple, the Flower Market, the White Pagoda Temple, the Huguo (Protect the Nation) Temple and the Longfu (Intense Happiness) Temple. There was also the annual Changdian (Factory Grounds) Fair held during the first 15 days of the first lunar month and the annual Pantaogong (Peach of Immortality Palace) Fair held from the third day of the third lunar month inside the Dongbianmen (Eastern Informal) Gate. The fairs mentioned above took place regularly for over 300 years.

Among those places, Changdian was the favorite. It was a small street with only 10 or so houses at that time, but when every Spring Festival was coming, it jointed with Lilichang Antique Street, Xinhua Street, Lu Dongbin Hall (Luzudian), the Jade Emperor Pavilion and the Shatu (Sandy Soil) Gardens, became a large market, drew people from all parts of the city to buy and sell paintings and calligraphic works, antiques, articles for daily use, children’s toys, food products and seasonal fruit and vegetables. In addition, entertainment was provided in the form of acrobatics, conjuring and operas.


After the founding of the Republic of China in 1912, trade in antiques at the Changdian Fair increased markedly. With the downfall of the Qing, former residents of the Imperial Palace, as well as princes, nobles and the descendants of deposed officials whose wealth and position were declining came to sell off their treasures. They found keen buyers among the emerging class of wealthy warlords, bureaucrats and politicians who were eager to pose as lovers of culture.

After 1949, the Changdian Fair continued to operate each year at Spring Festival. The 1963 fair was the largest one since the founding of the People’s Republic of China with over 750 stalls attracting over 4 million visitors.

Nowadays, however, more and more permanent markets were established and temple fairs gradually disappeared. To keep this traditional custom, there are varied temple fairs would be held in different places during every Spring Festival, normally form the first to the seventh day of every lunar year.

Ditan Park (Temple of Earth) Fair

Temple of Earth (Ditan in Chinese) is the traditional place to hold temple fairs. In ancient times, the emperors came here to sacrifice the god of the earth and pray for the good harvest. So that’s the provenance place of the temple fairs.
Address: 100 meters north of the Lama Temple or Lama Temple Subway Station.

Changdian Temple Fair
Address: Liulichang Jie, Xuanwu District.

Baiyunguan Temple Fair
This is the grandest temple fair of west downtown. Baiyunguan is a Taoist temple which is more than 1,000 years old and now hosts the only fair actually held within a temple. Every year so many local Beijinger go to there to touch a stone monkey carving. They believe that can bring them good luck.
Address: Xibianmenwai, Xicheng District.

Longtanhu Temple Fair
Fair events here are very similar to those in Ditan. There will be various interactive competitions inviting visitors to join in arm-wrestling, rock climbing and chess playing..
Address: Zuoanmennei Dajie, Chongwen District.

Longtanhu

Dongyue Temple Fair
Dongyue is one of the oldest temple fairs in Beijing, starting during the Yuan dynasty and having its heyday during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Culture of ‘Good Fortune’ has been the essence of this temple fair for three centuries. Performances of lion dances and Dongyue temple music would be featured every year.

Address: Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District

Daguanyuan (Grand View Garden) Temple Fair
This temple fair will be held at Grand View Garden (known as Daguanyuan in Chinese), a replica of the magnificent Daguanyuan garden of an imperial family described in the well-known Chinese novel A Dream of Red Mansions by Qing Dynasty writer Cao Xueqin (17l5-l763). Besides the traditional temple fair events, there will be shows of folk arts, extreme sports, Chinese kong-fu, Kaifeng Pan Drums as well as the ‘Two-people show’ (Er Ren Zhuan) from northeastern China.

Address: Nancaiyuan, Xuanwu District

Lotus Pond Temple Fair
Located close to Beijing West Railway Station, the Lotus Pond (Lianhuachi) Park is regarded as the birthplace of the city of Beijing, bearing a history of over 3,000 years. The temple fair here is quite traditional. It is an ideal place to enjoy Chinese folk arts and food.
Address: Lianhuachi Park, Chaoyang District

Chaoyang Park International Temple Fair

It is a new style of Temple fair in modern Beijing, an international one. Each year, it will offer performances by renowned bands from the different foreign countries. People can also go skiing, play games, and enjoy the overseas food.

Address: Chaoyang Park, Chaoyang District